But there have been thousands of heritage buildings that have been restored and saved thanks to professional restoration work. These building could have easily been lost to time but where saved and restored to their original glory. Yes, the restoration process can take a long time but when you can save a heritage building, it’s worth the wait.

Bali, with a population of 4.2 million people, has long been a jewel in the crown of Indonesian tourism. But suffering from the impact of burgeoning tourist numbers, a throw-away culture and poor waste management, that crown is slipping.

Expressive, passionate, and just a little nervous, Melati, 16, and Isabel, 14, spoke for six minutes about a massive worldwide problem which has been apparent on Balinese beaches and in its surrounding oceans for decades, plastic pollution. Students of Green School Bali, the sisters have grown up on the island, experiencing first-hand how its environment has been progressively trashed.

The modern era, enriched with progressive technology, has pushed us away from ever-providing Nature. The metropolitan lifestyle has forced adults and youths to forget about harvesting their own food. Because of this isolation, kids have no idea where the delicious fruit and vegetables come from. Do they come from the supermarket or the farmers’ market, or do the goods just appear from nowhere?

Water, water, everywhere…or is it? Water covers 70% of our planet, though fresh water required for drinking, bathing in, and irrigating our farm fields is only 3% of the world’s water. Our civilization depends on a plentiful supply of clean water, and yet in some parts of the world it iss becoming ever harder to obtain. Climate change and other factors have caused huge shortages of water across the developing world, and also in rich areas like the state of California, where a multi-year drought is still ongoing. As a result, around 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to water and it is scarce for at least one month of the year for 2.7 billion more.

Out of the mud and into…the mudcrete!
A pioneering company named WASP (World’s Advanced Saving Project) is conducting experimental research using plant seeds to try to strengthen clay mixes as it works towards 3D printing of houses in developing nations.

Using candles will never be the same! Egloo was born to counter the continual waste of electricity used for heating domestic rooms, offering as an alternative heating with candles which provides cleaner energy and economy by exploiting the properties of terracotta which stores heat and releases it slowly and gradually.

Years ago it was stressful to open my kid’s cell phone bill because I was never certain of what surprises were in store. Now that my children are grown it has ironically become the water bill that causes such angst…

A Life As A Human Interview: Friends of National Parks Foundation (FNPF) is a local non-profit organization working to preserve Indonesia’s wildlife and habitats. The philosophy of FNPF is that we are all connected. They take a holistic, balanced and comprehensive approach that recognizes the inter-relatedness of human beings, animals and the environment.